Our Commitment to

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Since 2003 Integreon has been making a positive contribution to the communities in which we live and work. Year on year we show our commitment through ongoing initiatives, using our unique assets and capabilities to respond to those around us. We’re not just in our communities, we’re part of them too and we make our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) matter to more than just us.

Our CSR initiatives include support for:

Education: We work to improve educational opportunities in our communities by helping local scholastic organizations obtain the resources and equipment they need.

Healthcare: We support efforts to promote the health and welfare of our local communities, and assist organizations that enrich people’s lives, creating a stronger and happier world.

Social Awareness: We strive to increase our understanding of problems in the communities around us by raising awareness of those issues and giving support to those who face hardships.

Environment & Sustainability: We help protect the environment by raising awareness, ensuring the sustainability of our programs and conducting business in a socially responsible manner.

Diversity & Inclusion: We believe in creating an inclusive environment and strive to provide a fair and supportive work place. We value each of our Associates for the contributions they make.

Following are highlights about our CSR activities from over the last year.

More

More than 1,000 Associates volunteered on CSR projects in 2016, touching the lives of many people in need within our local communities. Here are some key achievements in 2016.

3,959+

...Volunteer Hours.

$105,593

...Funds Raised.

6,583+

...Donated Items.

129

...Events.

1,173

...Volunteers.

129

...Beneficiaries.

Annual CSR Reports

Our Associates have been driving change in their communities since Integreon was founded in 1998. Some recent annual reports, provided below, will tell you more about how we strive to make a positive impact on the world around us.

Be sure to see our 2016 report, and below, to learn more about how Integreon volunteers put in thousands of hours to help make the world a better place to live.

Integreon International Charity Challenge (Global)

Category – Social Awareness, Healthcare, Education, Joy of Giving

Each Integreon center relies on the neighborhood it calls home, and is committed to truly partnering with and improving the communities in which it operates. A number of our locations are joining forces to take on the challenge of participating in a global relay of sponsored sporting events – “Integreon International Charity Challenge” – to unite our Associates as “One Integreon” as we walk, run and fundraise for selected charitable organizations.

Habitat For Humanity Project (Manila)

Category – Social Awareness

The Manila office supported Habitat for Humanity by taking part in project work in Quezon City. Integreon volunteers hauled nearly one thousand concrete blocks, mixed cement, gravel and sand, and created slab floorings to help build houses for one of the beneficiary communities. Habitat for Humanity helps the poorest and most vulnerable people lift themselves out of poverty by partnering with them to build their homes and communities.

Using Microsoft Skype technology, Integreon Associates from anywhere in the world remotely dial in from their own work stations to teach lessons to students sitting in class at their school. We follow the Academy’s school year syllabus in the subjects of Economics, IT, Accounting, Secretarial Practice, Organization of Commerce and Legal. Integreon also funds a full time language interpreter, which has given students additional access to the Edu-Lync program.

A spokesperson for the school said “This project has benefitted us by giving us a few extra hands when earlier there were none. We found it hard to impart quality education with our limited resources and faculty earlier, now we work with Integreon to achieve this goal”.

Click here to read more about the initiatives taken by Integreon under Project Edu-Lync. Be sure to watch this video from Microsoft too!

School Supplies Drive (Arlington)

Category – Education

Associates collected scholastic items such as bookbags, composition books, binders, folders, pencils and pens, crayons and calculators for the Arlington County Public School in a collection drive aimed at children who are not able to afford school supplies and stationery to start the new school year. Lack of essential materials can have a profound impact on students and their learning experience, but making school a better place by the simple act of providing them with provisions such as pens and notebooks, ensures that both they and their teachers begin the new academic year with the tools they need to succeed.

Edu-Lync (Bristol)

Category – Education

Integreon’s two Bristol offices held a ‘Back to School’ themed dress down day to promote Edu-Lync, Integreon’s education program that uses Microsoft Skype technology to remotely teach students at the Rotary Sanskardham Academy in Mumbai. Associate Mark West delivered two separate modules in the subject of economics, focusing on demand and supply, finishing with a knowledge check and discussion of examples at the end of each session. Fellow Associate Megan Gorry taught in the subject of business law.

School Supplies Drive (Fargo)

Category – Education

Associates participated in a school supplies drive to benefit students in their local community. Items such as pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, paper, rulers and scissors were collected and given in support of the United Way, a non-profit organization whose aim is to improve the lives of students in need by mobilizing the caring power of the community. The school items were collated by volunteers and packaged into hundreds of backpacks. This effort helps those who are not able to otherwise purchase educational supplies engage in the school activities required. Children of all ages are excited to be given a full backpack of materials so that they are ready for the first day of the new school year.

Career Guidance At St. Vincent School (Johannesburg)

Category – Education

In the Johannesburg office Associates continued their collaboration throughout the year with St. Vincent School for the Deaf, and in particular, the career guidance intervention program. Career paths of each student are aligned to the Psycad assessment results conducted at the well renowned University of Johannesburg, following which our Associates worked with the school facilitating the process of matching up each young adult with a respective deaf individual. Each student was assigned to a working professional to work-shadow and give them a sense of what it is like to be in a working environment. Logistics managers and psychologists were a few of the careers chosen.

Aspire Learning And Development Program (London)

Category – Education

Across a six week period a number of Associates in London, Bristol and Fargo were asked by law firm TLT to join their ‘Aspire for Associates’ learning and development program to work with trainee solicitors to share their knowledge in the subjects of cross office working, homogenized work product and corporate DNA.

Aspire is a bespoke learning and development program combining education needs with innovative interventions, utilizing valuable external sources to deliver a range of learning tools to selected individuals with workshops, project work, one-to-one mentoring and practical business-related games.

Pajama Program (New York)

Category – Education

Volunteers from the New York office took part in the Pajama Program, a charitable initiative aimed at giving children fun and valuable reading practice in their local library and reading centers. Associates paired up to give literacy support and individual practice in one-to-one shared reading, picking out books as well as taking part in engaging group activities. The Pajama Program also provides new pajamas and new books to children with the aim of giving them a comforting and nurturing bedtime experience.

School Stationery Drive (Noida)

Category – Education

The Noida office ran a week long collection drive, putting together school kits containing school stationery items such as pencils, pens, pencil boxes, drawing and painting kits, notebooks and books. The bags were donated to the 30 students at Goonj, Noida’s NGO partner, who had highlighted that rural students lack basic supplies that students in urban areas enjoy in abundance, so this initiative goes a long way to helping improve a student’s involvement in class and increase their self-confidence. This contribution of varied stationery items greatly benefited the under-privileged students who are keenly interested in continuing school but are ill equipped to otherwise start the school year.

CPR Training (Arlington)

Category – Healthcare

In early January 2015 Arlington Associates witnessed a colleague suffer cardiac arrest in the office. The Associate thankfully recovered, however fellow colleagues realized they were less than prepared to deal with such an incident so undertook essential first aid training in order to better assist in the event something like this happened again. Eleven Arlington volunteers took time out to train in CPR, and are now certified in using life-saving techniques along with a defibrillator machine. This training now means these Associates can identify themselves when they assist with blood drives for the American Red Cross.

Bristol Mind (Bristol)

Category – Healthcare

Melissa Imber volunteered a week of her annual leave to support mental health charity Bristol Mind who exhibited at Glastonbury, a five day festival of contemporary performing arts and music. Manning their 24 hour first aid and counselling tent, Melissa distributed leaflets and spent time listening to those in need. Bristol Mind is part of national charity Mind which aims to promote a positive view of mental health and emotional well-being and provide services that are accessible, relevant and empowering to the people using them.

Pink Day (Fargo)

Category – Healthcare

In support of Pink Day and Breast Cancer Awareness, Fargo Associates challenged each other to participate in wearing pink for the day. Client teams held contests to gauge participation within their work group and to compete against other internal groups for the most people in pink, or the most pink by any team. Donations collected were given to the Fargo Moorhead Area Bras on Broadway, where local hearts and local art came together to raise money for those in the area fighting breast cancer.

The Maharishi Institute, The Cancer Association of South Africa (Johanessburg)

Category – Healthcare

Johannesburg Associates organized a presentation in association with CANSA (The Cancer Association of South Africa) at the Maharishi Institute to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and increase awareness among the institute’s students.
During the event a CANSA nurse and CANSA representative conducted an insightful presentation, educating the students and encouraging them to familiarize themselves with facts about breast cancer.

London2Cambridge Challenge (London)

Category – Healthcare

Integreon’s Chief of Staff, Andrew Sims, took part in a sponsored 60 mile walk from London to Cambridge to raise funds for Integreon’s two UK charities of the year - Rainbow Trust who are dedicated to supporting seriously ill children and their families, and Bristol Mind, the mental health charity whose services include supported housing, crisis helplines, drop-in centers, employment and training, counselling and befriending.

Andrew’s challenge was to complete the walk in under 24 hours. He came over the finish line in 22 hours and 10 minutes.

Fundraising For Oxfam (Mumbai)

Category – Healthcare

A number of fundraising events took place at the office with all donations going to the Chennai flood relief effort. Activities included auctioning old IT equipment and involving volunteer members of Oxfam in fundraising efforts during an office visit. Oxfam India is a NGO with over 64 years of presence in India and drives initiatives like providing sanitation facilities, public health services, emergency flood security and temporary shelters to flood victims.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (New York)

Category – Healthcare

New York Associates donated $5 each to wear jeans for the day in order to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the leading facility for pioneering research and treatments for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Donations went toward the provision of treatment, travel, housing and food for seriously ill patients and their families.

BloodConnect Blood Drive (Noida)

Category – Healthcare

Noida Associates know that blood donation is an easy and powerful way to make an impact, which is why 58 of them joined with BloodConnect, and gave the equivalent of 20 liters of blood.

BloodConnect is a youth-run organization providing free help and services to the poor and needy of India. With a shortage of three million blood units a year, the charity operates boot camps and weekly donations to ensure there is a continuous, sufficient blood supply to blood banks. Connecting donors, helping those in need and improving awareness, the charity has established a network of youth across the country to lead the movement.

Clothing And Food Drive (Arlington)

Category – Social Awareness

Throughout the year the Arlington office worked closely with VA Winterhaven donating clothing and food to homeless and at-risk veterans. Winterhaven is an integral part of the VA Medical Center’s comprehensive effort to end veteran homelessness, offering vital services such as health screenings, housing and employment counselling and clothing to help lead veterans to independence and improved health.

Empty Bowl Project (Austin)

Category – Social Awareness

Austin Associates volunteered being greeters, serving soup and cleaning bowls during the Empty Bowl Project, an annual fundraiser for the Kids Café program. The Kids Café is a national program of Feeding America that provides afterschool and summer meals to children aged 5-18. The Empty Bowl Project brings together Austin area potters, musicians and restaurant owners, who donate their time and talents to the fundraiser.

Clothing Drive (Beijing)

Category – Social Awareness

Our Beijing office sought to make a positive impact and provide happiness to their local community through continuing their tradition of holding clothing drives.

Many items of clothing, including coats which were sought after ahead of winter, were provided to homeless and unemployed people in the region’s remote areas in Qinghai Province.

Food Drive For Capital Area Food Bank (Austin)

The food bank works alongside financial supporters, volunteers and food donors across the country to fill unmet needs in Central Texas. Each year this commitment from private, government and charitable partners allows them to bring 26 million meals to the community and into the hands of families and local non-profits.

Food Drive For Trussell Trust (London)

Category – Joy of Giving

London Associates raised nearly $800 to buy non-perishable and tinned groceries as well as household goods for their local food bank in Hackney in East London. The amount raised equated to 265 meals for local people in difficulty.

Trussell Trust partners with local communities to provide a minimum of three days’ emergency food to people experiencing financial crisis. Recognizing that stopping hunger is about more than just giving food, the Trust also offers services such as money advice and fuel banks, helping people to break the cycle of poverty.

Project Pearls (Manila)

Category – Joy of Giving

Led by the Manila Document Services team, Integreon sponsored a soup kitchen day for more than 300 children living in the slums of Tondo.

Associates from different business units volunteered helping in the soup kitchen, serving food and distributing clothing and toys to children and parents. Project Pearls is a charity which focuses on improving education, nutrition, economic and community development.

Oldie But Goldie And The Young Show (Mumbai)

Category – Joy of Giving

Mumbai volunteers visited a local retirement home, spending quality time with the elderly residents, putting on performances, engaging them in games and activities and joining them for dinner.

The team also gave donations to go towards paying for kitchen supplies and arranged a collection drive at the Mumbai office of toiletries and food.

Tree Planting At Manila Marikina Watershed (Manila)

Category – Environment

Manila Associates volunteered their time in a one day activity, planting over 600 wildlings covering 1 hectare of forest land to contribute toward The Forest Enrichment Program, which aims to rehabilitate the disappearing forest cover of the Marikina Watershed area, a location affected most from past flooding, extreme weather and typhoons.

The activity implements a planting system that promotes the propagation of native indigenous trees for forest restoration and biodiversity, incorporating also fruit trees and crops for food security. Recording over 80% survival rate of the wildlings, the volunteer program also utilizes community participation for alternative livelihood and inclusive growth.

PCs For People (Fargo)

Category – Environment

As part of our commitment to recycling, the Fargo office donated working computers and monitors to PCs For People, a charity that provides IT equipment to low income individuals and families. Other beneficiaries include non-profit and non-governmental organizations with recognized charitable status, educational institutions, and museums who have volunteer staff, and because of their status are unable to afford a computer, or other hardware.

OUR PAST ENDEAVOURS

Integreon South Africa ONE Earth – MariGold Farm Visit

April 2015|
On March 13, the South Africa team visited the MariGold Farm, embarking a new partnership as part of Integreon South Africa’s ONE Earth initiative. Situated at the outskirts of the city, MariGold Farm is a 100% black-female-owned vegetable farm managed by Mrs. Monika Ndebele. Monika and her A-Team use biodynamic farming techniques, considered a mid-point between traditional and organic farming. The partnership between Integreon and MariGold was initiated when we assisted the farm with a functional design and layout solution for their offices.

Water Drive (Arlington)

July 2014|
The Washington, DC, delivery center joined forces with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center for a water drive, collecting more than 60 cases of water for services provided to our veterans and heroes. Great job, everyone!

Pens of Hope in Davao (London & Bristol)

June 2014|
On Sunday, June 1, countries around the world observed International Children’s Day. In honor of this special day, Integreon celebrated with a week of activities that started Tuesday, May 27.

One of these activities was a collection drive for Pens of Hope in Davao, an outreach program to address the scarcity of writing materials in the Philippines. Most of us take having these things in our homes and schools for granted, but there are many schools in the world who struggle to fund such items and children have to learn without them.

In London, our Associates purchased 1,837 items of stationery for donation and, in Bristol, Associates donated 400 items. These items consisted of writing pens and pencils, coloring pens and pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, rulers, notepads and coloring books. Our donations were given to the community in the province of Agusan del Norte.

Pens of Hope in Davao expressed their gratitude through their blog. Please follow the link below to see their BlogSpot, which features pictures of our donations reaching children in the Philippines:

Primary School Visit (London)

June 2014|
On Tuesday, June 24, the London office hosted a group of 8-9 year-old students from a London primary school. The visit was part of the school’s Work Week Visit initiative and arranged in collaboration with Inspire!, an education-business partnership that supports schools in Hackney, Camden and Islington.

During the visit, we used Lync to draw Associates from around the world into a workshop on communication, took document review to a new and entertaining level, encouraged the students’ artistic side and gave them a lowdown on sales. We also taught them what we do with a bit of downtime during a busy day, namely a quick game of table tennis. To round off the visit, the students met with Bob Gogel for snacks and a Q&A session.

Clothing Drive (Beijing)

March 2014|
Seven of our Associates led a drive to donate clothes to poor and remote areas in China. By March 16, they had collected more than 51 kg of clothes, bags, shoes and quilts. Working with a local intermediary, we sent the clothes to the town of Ge Er Mu, in Qinghai Province.

Adopt and Name a Penguin (Johannesburg)

April 2014|
On April 22, the Johannesburg office celebrated Earth Day by adopting an African Penguin, in cooperation with SANCCOB’s Adopt a Penguin Program. SANCCOB, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, uses the program to encourage support for endangered African penguins.

With adoption papers in hand, the South Africa Team, in cooperation with the Global Steering Committee, launched a contest to name the penguin. The prize was a special penguin T-shirt from SANCCOB.

The winner of our week-long contest bested more than 120 entries with “Integwen”. We’d also like to congratulate the two runners-up, “Intenguin” and “Integuin”.

Tree Planting (Manila)

May 2014|
For our week-long celebration of World Environment Day, 45 Associates participated in a tree planting event in San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines in May 2014. The location is a 73-hectacre closed landfill rehabilitation area, which is part of the National Greening Program of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, we planted about 300 saplings. Although our initial target was 1000, DENR requested we limit our efforts to 300, the most they could sustain over a hot, dry summer.

Soup Kitchen (New York)

June 2014|
The Soup Kitchen at Saint Luke's is a vital ministry that provides a hot lunch to as many as 220 people every Tuesday and Thursday. The Soup Kitchen is subsidized largely by the United Way, however, they also receive cash gifts and food items from their neighbors on Restaurant Row. The Soup Kitchen is staffed by volunteers from the congregation, area office workers seeking an "alternative" lunch break, and out-of-town mission and youth groups.

In June, 13 Associates from the New York office volunteered on two separate occasions and reported it was a very moving experience, one said, “Thanks for making it easy for me to help our neighbors in a tiny way! St. Luke’s is providing a great service, making our world better with each act of kindness.”

Another noted, “It’s been a great way to bond with colleagues while engaging in such a meaningful activity. I look forward to this opportunity every week because it has such a positive impact on my day. It allows you to step out of the day-to-day routine of life and puts things in perspective. It also gives you a sense of gratitude for your own situation in life and allows you to show compassion and genuine care for those who may not be so fortunate or may not have the support system that many of us do.”

Project Vidya (Mumbai)

June 2014|
The Mumbai team arranged training sessions for eight Shelter of Love orphanage children in our Mumbai deliver center, where we provided training in MS Office Basic skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.